It is an undeniable fact that there is a sizeable part of the UK population who would leave the EU tomorrow. We will see in time whether that is a majority or not. Even if the referendum was lost it would be demanded again and again until we got the right result - BREXIT.

We dont want to be part of an EU Super State. We dont want the Euro. We dont want an EU Army and we crtainly dont want to be part of a group that cant even get its own financial house in order aka unaudited accounts.

Although it sounds dramatic the UK will always remain "The Enemy Within" the UK. We want you as friends and we want you as trading partners but we want no part in your super state notion.

Let us go with some dignity and let us all remain good friends. You know that intrinsically we want out. Lets hope its soon.

The UK can be useful in Europe and it is unlikely it will leave, with many people below apparently thinking it is certain showing a misunderstanding of the situation. A small fraction of UK politicians want the UK out of Europe, the same goes for the media - ignoring the idiocy of the Daily Mail, of course - and academics. This as demonstrated by most peoples' worry of the referendum leading to exit. The UK, as Ian Burma rightly points out, can be of use in Europe. Europe is too obsessed with regulations and red tape, which would find agreement from sections of society in all countries in Europe: the UK is right to point this out. Framing it in a nationalist manner, in terms of power, is of concern. The UK needs to become a more effective player in the European Union. Some people seem to think being against certain policies in Europe makes one a Euro-skeptic. This probably why there are so many defunct policies. Discourse needs rationalising, not seen as the UK referendum will be, an IN-OUT matter! EU federalist project need rejuvenating, moaning about anyone who wants change, casting them a euro-skeptic is to to not debate the issue constructively.

UK has always held back the European integration project because its citizens do not believe in it, and do not want it. This is not a crime nor an offense, but a feeling to take into account.
Eurozone countries instead want to strengthen their relationships, push beyond the sharing of their sovereignty, and build a strong economical and political continental block in the new global context.
If all UK wants is a common free market, the European Economic Area (EEA) is the right tool for the purpose. It allows its members (at the moment Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) to participate in the EU's internal market without being members of the EU. Lets make the appropriate agreement and we'll be friends forever.

The problem this author (who, as I understand it, is Dutch) fails to address is the gulf between the views of the British people and those on the continent.
The reality is that most Britons are simply not prepared to be part of a European federation/confederation. End of story. Just as Canadians are not prepared to become part of the United States or Americans are not prepared to form a political union with the Latin American nations, the British are not prepared to surrender their national sovereignty.
Either the EU abandons it's goal of becoming a federation or the British leave.
Let's be blunt -- it will be the latter.
There is no meeting of minds here. The UK's departure is going to take place one way or another.

Is Europe bankrupt and will it break apart? Possibly, but the finances of the UK, the US and Japan are clearly worse off. With the western world now ostensibly on a path of beggar thy neighbor policies, the more pertinent question is who will break apart first, and who is going to be the last entity standing.

Taking that perspective, a Brexit would come close to an economic folly for Britain. However, it is quite interesting to read that a lot of British seem to be convinced that Europe needs them more than Britain needs Europe, simply because it imports (sic!) significant quantities of goods.

I consider the Brexit to be inevitable and suggest that it should be hastened so as not create a state of prolonged uncertainty. People on the move should not be stopped.

Euro is a failed project since the beginning. One currency for 17 sovereignty can’t work. Are Technocrats in Brussels who are occupied with the size and shape of cucumbers supposed to solve EU’s growing problems?

With a bankrupt Eurozone there is no need to negiotiate terms, the UK should simply dictate them or leave? As for all the cherry picking hype, the EU has been doing this for years? First they cherry picked Greece, then Ireland and Portugal, after that Spain and Italy. The French want the UK 'out', as Hollande needs to be cherry picked next! With zero democracy in the EU, next bailout looks to be for the Russian gangsters in Cyprus! Time for a big reform?

Europe has a parliament who picks "technocrats" or "political leaders" that manage to gather approval... which is exactly the same as Britain: who voted directly for Cameron? While many countries of the despised south of Europe are more democratic according to your own definition (i.e. directly vote for the political leader - i.e. the president). Not sure a country with no citizens - but only the subjects of her Majesty the queen - will necessarily be a good thing for democracy. As far as I see, what Cameron does is "take it or leave it", i.e. the Europe he wants or not at all. This is far from the political consensus that needs to be reach in order to share fairly the burden of Europeanisation and also the benefits of this union.
It's a very dangerous game they play, they have much to loose. Continental Europe might loose the benefit of a fervent defender of predatory speculation.. but the city will have a hard time, because it seems clear all stocks from the EU will have to be traded within the EU, by a technocrat rules.
And the good music will still cross the channel !

This decision has little to do with Europe keeping Britain as a European partner, just simple mathematics? The EU is bankrupt, has been since 2008. Anyone arguing that a British exit from the Union would be catastrophic for London, is just drivel. Reality is much worse, with the collapse of Cyprus, needing yet another EU bailout, there is now a wounded creature in Brussels, with a big catastrophe fest going on? If the UK leaves it would destroy the entire Euro project- they need us much more than the UK needs Europe and we should insist on reform.

One thing is certain, whether Britain leaves the EU or it's own accord via referendum or is nudged through the exit door via the EU refusal to repatriate matters of sovereignty back to Britain, it is hard to foresee Britain getting back in again. The presence of Britain has been a major impediment to the unification project as a whole and the technocrats in Brussels would be quietly happy to see Britain leave.
But in any case the author's premise is flawed- that democracy is a necessary or even beneficial component of the European Union project

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